Islamic Law and Empire in Ottoman Cairo

Islamic law in the Ottoman Empire served as both a religious framework and a tool for political governance, bridging the gap between scholarly interpretation and royal authority. James E. Baldwin's study reveals that while Islamic law was traditionally developed by jurists outside state control, the Ottoman Sultans leveraged it to legitimize their rule and manage justice in Cairo, one of the empire’s most prosperous cities. The research highlights how formal and informal dispute resolution institutions, such as the governor’s Diwan and imperial council, functioned within this dual system, offering new insights into the relationship between shari‘a and political power. By integrating legal records with contemporary chronicles, Baldwin challenges conventional narratives about Ottoman legal practice, emphasizing its plurality and the dynamic interplay between Cairo and Istanbul during a period of decentralization.

Baldwin, J. E. (2017). Islamic Law and Empire in Ottoman Cairo. Edinburgh University Press. https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9781474403092.001.0001